Somerville Open Studios Part II
YAY! I Love SOS! It's great! Yesterday I didn't get to spend as much time as i would have liked strolling about the neighborhood looking at art, but i will get to do more of that today! It's so much fun getting to see all these little inspirations around here, artists opening up their homes and studios to let us in and see all the wonderful treasures that they create. There are, of course, some duds, but everyone is delightful and grateful that we are showing up at all. I have also been given the opportunity to ask about some oil painting technique, which is fantastic, since i have been wanting to paint again. I am similarly getting reinvigorated around pastels. Landscapes are making me happy, as are still lifes with fruit and glass objects...moreover, i am a sucker for color. daN has bumped into some former after school students of his, and that has been pleasant as well. I am just loving this. If seeing art makes you happy, i highly recommend that you check out whatever open studio events you might have going on in your area whenever it next happens. Seems to be a spring and fall thing.
On a side note, last night in honor of Cinco de Mayo, daN and i met up with Q, Yaz, and Troy for Mexican food at the Border Cafe in Harvard Square (which might actually trump Margarita's as my favorite Mexican food place, for hot plates of food -- Anna's Taqueria still trumps for burritos). We waited for about an hour, but that was alright. They were passing around the chips and salsa for free, and i had my margarita. The good was worth the wait, and i generally had a lovely time. It was a beautiful night, so we had a nice time walking home after dinner. I fell asleep as soon as i got home. It was a full day :)
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
Somerville Open Studios
For those of you who live in the area (decreasing numbers, these days, though perhaps that just means my readership is growing!) i wanted to to mention that the Somerville Open Studios is this weekend, and it looks really cool! The artists are also leaning on the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) really hard to put the Green Line extention in, including the act of having a town-endorsed free trolley run continuously along the proposed extention route, linking the different parts of the open studios event.
At any rate, here is the link. I plan on going and drinking their wine.
http://somervilleopenstudios.com/
For those of you who live in the area (decreasing numbers, these days, though perhaps that just means my readership is growing!) i wanted to to mention that the Somerville Open Studios is this weekend, and it looks really cool! The artists are also leaning on the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) really hard to put the Green Line extention in, including the act of having a town-endorsed free trolley run continuously along the proposed extention route, linking the different parts of the open studios event.
At any rate, here is the link. I plan on going and drinking their wine.
http://somervilleopenstudios.com/
Saturday, April 21, 2007
It's been a while...
Hey all! To all three of my faithful readers, I apologize for how long it's been since i have managed to update this thing.
Life has been very exciting. We went to Washington DC two weeks ago to visit Matt and Kathy, and that was a lot of fun, despite the fact that i became progressively sicker with allergies the whole time. I LOVE museums, and i love that they are free there, for the most part. The Botanical Gardens was a highlight for me, as was the National Gallery. Not to mention the International Spy Museum, which was just so loaded with information that i couldn't even pay attention to the current stuff by the time i got through. Let's just say that microdots are cool, and whoever came up with how to make them out of household ingredients is a mad genius. It was also fun to see what film stars and authors have been spies.
I went to the doctor when i got home.
It turns out that, in addition to my known allergies (dust, pollen, mold, mildew), i am also allergic to roaches and feathers. That explains the public building sickness thing and why i never sleep well on a feather pillow.
I love my new allergy medication though.
I have still been teaching a lot of yoga (well, it feels like a lot) on the Saturdays that i've been in Boston as well as at to the pre-school teachers after work once a week.
To cap it all off, we saw GUSTER last night at the Boston Opera House! That place is beautiful, and it has fabulous acoustics. We went with our friends Dave and Laura, who snagged our extra tickets before anyone else could, and we had so much fun. I love that band. It wasn't nearly as intimate as when we saw them at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, but there is no doubt about the fact that the Opera House is a superior venue -- we could practically hear them better from 1/3 of a football field away in the Opera House than we could from 30 feet away from them in Hampton. The highlight: they played one of my favorite jazz standards ever, "Brasil." They also rocked out all crazy on "Airport."
AND, I'm seeing Keane next month, the weekend after i get back from DENVER to visit MOD 67! yeah! (for those of you unfamiliar with Hampshire's mod system, it's an on-campus apartment). We're having our first Mod 67 reunion, and i'm PSYCHED. Lots of things coming up. I'm also excited to go to Maine this weekend, and it marks the first time i'll have gone up to the midcoast area since Christmas. Kinda scarey. I have missed it dearly. I'm really looking forward to taking a breath of fresh air.
On May 6, i have an audition at Boston's Lyric Theatre for two different plays -- Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale," and a dark comedy called "The Dining Room." I have to prepare two different monologues. Haven't done that for ....... um, YEARS. Lots of them. Wish me luck.
All in all, i'm tired, but largely happy. I am still trying to "figure out what i want to do when i grow up" and am now loosely entertaining the idea of getting some kind of a teaching certificate... but i really don't know. I just keep trying to think of what i can do that is lucrative in Maine and will still leave me some time off (Mainers are notorious for thinking that one week of vacation is pretty good).
And yet through all of this, i can say this squarely: i miss spending more of my time with friends. Thank goodness i have yoga because it keeps me at equilibrium through all the busy-ness, but i keep wondering when i will get to slow down. Or am i the kind of person who does that? Would living in the middle of nowhere make things better, or would i go nuts?
Last but not least, enjoy the sun! Thank fucking god!
Hey all! To all three of my faithful readers, I apologize for how long it's been since i have managed to update this thing.
Life has been very exciting. We went to Washington DC two weeks ago to visit Matt and Kathy, and that was a lot of fun, despite the fact that i became progressively sicker with allergies the whole time. I LOVE museums, and i love that they are free there, for the most part. The Botanical Gardens was a highlight for me, as was the National Gallery. Not to mention the International Spy Museum, which was just so loaded with information that i couldn't even pay attention to the current stuff by the time i got through. Let's just say that microdots are cool, and whoever came up with how to make them out of household ingredients is a mad genius. It was also fun to see what film stars and authors have been spies.
I went to the doctor when i got home.
It turns out that, in addition to my known allergies (dust, pollen, mold, mildew), i am also allergic to roaches and feathers. That explains the public building sickness thing and why i never sleep well on a feather pillow.
I love my new allergy medication though.
I have still been teaching a lot of yoga (well, it feels like a lot) on the Saturdays that i've been in Boston as well as at to the pre-school teachers after work once a week.
To cap it all off, we saw GUSTER last night at the Boston Opera House! That place is beautiful, and it has fabulous acoustics. We went with our friends Dave and Laura, who snagged our extra tickets before anyone else could, and we had so much fun. I love that band. It wasn't nearly as intimate as when we saw them at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, but there is no doubt about the fact that the Opera House is a superior venue -- we could practically hear them better from 1/3 of a football field away in the Opera House than we could from 30 feet away from them in Hampton. The highlight: they played one of my favorite jazz standards ever, "Brasil." They also rocked out all crazy on "Airport."
AND, I'm seeing Keane next month, the weekend after i get back from DENVER to visit MOD 67! yeah! (for those of you unfamiliar with Hampshire's mod system, it's an on-campus apartment). We're having our first Mod 67 reunion, and i'm PSYCHED. Lots of things coming up. I'm also excited to go to Maine this weekend, and it marks the first time i'll have gone up to the midcoast area since Christmas. Kinda scarey. I have missed it dearly. I'm really looking forward to taking a breath of fresh air.
On May 6, i have an audition at Boston's Lyric Theatre for two different plays -- Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale," and a dark comedy called "The Dining Room." I have to prepare two different monologues. Haven't done that for ....... um, YEARS. Lots of them. Wish me luck.
All in all, i'm tired, but largely happy. I am still trying to "figure out what i want to do when i grow up" and am now loosely entertaining the idea of getting some kind of a teaching certificate... but i really don't know. I just keep trying to think of what i can do that is lucrative in Maine and will still leave me some time off (Mainers are notorious for thinking that one week of vacation is pretty good).
And yet through all of this, i can say this squarely: i miss spending more of my time with friends. Thank goodness i have yoga because it keeps me at equilibrium through all the busy-ness, but i keep wondering when i will get to slow down. Or am i the kind of person who does that? Would living in the middle of nowhere make things better, or would i go nuts?
Last but not least, enjoy the sun! Thank fucking god!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Quick Like a Bunny
SO busy lately! I am teaching three yoga classes this week -- two on Monday night and one on Wednesday -- both for my yoga teacher who scheduled a vacation prior to snow days pushing the end of the semester back a week. Whew! I also will be attending a free lecture at the Museum of Science on Tuesday night on the evolution of the Y Chromosome. Looks interesting! I think I'll be pretty tired by the time Friday rolls around. Especially since we're in full gear at work getting ready for the Board meeting the following Monday morning. Yep.
That all being said, I really am having a good time. Yesterday was a blast -- daN has been in Maine for the past few days to round out his vacation, and we met in Portland yesterday (i took the bus up), and we met up with Lee, Alan, Zak, Mandi, Mark, Pat, and Erica, and had a wonderful time! Hyjinks included:
It was good. And now i'm off to take yoga at the O2 yoga studio.
SO busy lately! I am teaching three yoga classes this week -- two on Monday night and one on Wednesday -- both for my yoga teacher who scheduled a vacation prior to snow days pushing the end of the semester back a week. Whew! I also will be attending a free lecture at the Museum of Science on Tuesday night on the evolution of the Y Chromosome. Looks interesting! I think I'll be pretty tired by the time Friday rolls around. Especially since we're in full gear at work getting ready for the Board meeting the following Monday morning. Yep.
That all being said, I really am having a good time. Yesterday was a blast -- daN has been in Maine for the past few days to round out his vacation, and we met in Portland yesterday (i took the bus up), and we met up with Lee, Alan, Zak, Mandi, Mark, Pat, and Erica, and had a wonderful time! Hyjinks included:
- Introducing Toby and Amici (respective dogs of Z & M and L & A, respectively)
- Playing around on the HUGE rocks that resemble driftwood at Two Lights State Park
- Bowling! I'm not terrible -- i got above a hundred both rounds!
- Eating out at the Great Lost Bear -- tasty American bar and grill. Mmmm.
- OH, YES ... driving home in a storm. We probably should have left before dinner when it started snowing since we knew it was coming, but we had such a good time. We didn't get home until 1:00 am, and normally we would have been home by midnight.
It was good. And now i'm off to take yoga at the O2 yoga studio.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Holla back, youngin'!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Q!
I am fully initiated in the ways of seedy karaoke bars now. Well, i suppose not fully. The song i put myself in for was already done by some other chicks there, but i totally know what i want to sing next time i go. Patty, whenever you make it up here next, we're TOTALLY going there -- turns out Courtside Karaoke at the intersections of Fourth and Cambridge in the neighborhood in which i used to reside is a class act full of the best of the spirit of karaoke. So much fun.
Q, your rendition of "Sweet Child of Mine" done me proud.
Note to readers: i didn't end up getting a tattoo yesterday. One of the artists (ironically, the one i couldn't stand, it turns out) told me that the spot i wanted my tattoos never hold ink terribly well, and it tends to bleed over time. So, i didn't end up getting one yesterday. It took me forever to decide about where i'd wanted it, so i wasn't about to jump into where else. Besides -- by the time Q's tattoo was done, we were running short on time anyhow, since we had to get to Boston Beer Works on time.
I love good beer. One of the Beer Works' specialities this month is this fantastic Irish Cream Stout in honor of St. Patty's day. Mmmmmm. I had a tall one and then finished someone's second. I don't usually drink that much beer in one place, but it was worth it.
I also got to hang out with Q's younger sister Heather and her best friend Sara Lee, whom i recall liking quite a bit in high school. Tons of fun, in this wonderful backwoods Mainer kind of way. (Heather's reaction to the turnstiles for exiting the subway station was precious.)
Well, i guess i should do something productive now. Or something.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Q!
I am fully initiated in the ways of seedy karaoke bars now. Well, i suppose not fully. The song i put myself in for was already done by some other chicks there, but i totally know what i want to sing next time i go. Patty, whenever you make it up here next, we're TOTALLY going there -- turns out Courtside Karaoke at the intersections of Fourth and Cambridge in the neighborhood in which i used to reside is a class act full of the best of the spirit of karaoke. So much fun.
Q, your rendition of "Sweet Child of Mine" done me proud.
Note to readers: i didn't end up getting a tattoo yesterday. One of the artists (ironically, the one i couldn't stand, it turns out) told me that the spot i wanted my tattoos never hold ink terribly well, and it tends to bleed over time. So, i didn't end up getting one yesterday. It took me forever to decide about where i'd wanted it, so i wasn't about to jump into where else. Besides -- by the time Q's tattoo was done, we were running short on time anyhow, since we had to get to Boston Beer Works on time.
I love good beer. One of the Beer Works' specialities this month is this fantastic Irish Cream Stout in honor of St. Patty's day. Mmmmmm. I had a tall one and then finished someone's second. I don't usually drink that much beer in one place, but it was worth it.
I also got to hang out with Q's younger sister Heather and her best friend Sara Lee, whom i recall liking quite a bit in high school. Tons of fun, in this wonderful backwoods Mainer kind of way. (Heather's reaction to the turnstiles for exiting the subway station was precious.)
Well, i guess i should do something productive now. Or something.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Systems Recovery
excerpts from an email to Lee:
"life has been full of its usual fullness and wonder. ron and carol watier were down this week (which is why i didn't get back to you earlier) for a storytelling gig that daN got for ron at the sage school. they took us out for dinner both nights -- the first night was texmex and the other night was french-cambodian (REALLY amazing), and it was, overall, just a lot of fun to see them. i enjoy spending time with them...
"teaching yoga is picking up some more again, which is amusing. more studios are calling and requesting me, of course, for times that i am unable to do it. probably at the end of the summer, i'll take a break from teaching so that i can take french classes again. i miss that. and painting classes. i've been getting back in touch with my creative side (although, it almost feels like my creative side is getting back in touch with me) and i find myself wanting to take more time to hone my skills, but i don't have the time for it. it has to come from somewhere, and i am not about to quit this wonderful job i have...
"in may i'm going to denver to have a reunion with my college roommates. YAY! should be fun. little trips that aren't expensive, but get me out of the area. i definitely have the travel bug. i do want to go somewhere completely different and exciting [that in no way resembles where i am right now], but i can't do europe until next year if we're buying a place this year. just can't afford it. HOWEVER, i might want to go to quebec city in the fall, since i've never been there, and we could just drive there. i have to admit -- it's really nice to have a job that pays enough for me to do these things while i'm young and have no children."
All in all, things are good, as usual. My hands are freezing though, so I'll want to shower soon. And since i'm getting a tattoo today, the sooner i'm emotionally prepared, the better. I have been planning on getting apple blossoms on my foot, and i'll see what the artist comes up with, but i'm not sure i'm feeling it right now. I know, though, that i want a dragonfly on the inside of my left ankle and a ladybug on the inside of my right ankle, so maybe i'll do that today instead. Then, of course, Q will be getting hers, too, and we're all going to celebrate her birthday.
I'm off to do great things! Like showering.
excerpts from an email to Lee:
"life has been full of its usual fullness and wonder. ron and carol watier were down this week (which is why i didn't get back to you earlier) for a storytelling gig that daN got for ron at the sage school. they took us out for dinner both nights -- the first night was texmex and the other night was french-cambodian (REALLY amazing), and it was, overall, just a lot of fun to see them. i enjoy spending time with them...
"teaching yoga is picking up some more again, which is amusing. more studios are calling and requesting me, of course, for times that i am unable to do it. probably at the end of the summer, i'll take a break from teaching so that i can take french classes again. i miss that. and painting classes. i've been getting back in touch with my creative side (although, it almost feels like my creative side is getting back in touch with me) and i find myself wanting to take more time to hone my skills, but i don't have the time for it. it has to come from somewhere, and i am not about to quit this wonderful job i have...
"in may i'm going to denver to have a reunion with my college roommates. YAY! should be fun. little trips that aren't expensive, but get me out of the area. i definitely have the travel bug. i do want to go somewhere completely different and exciting [that in no way resembles where i am right now], but i can't do europe until next year if we're buying a place this year. just can't afford it. HOWEVER, i might want to go to quebec city in the fall, since i've never been there, and we could just drive there. i have to admit -- it's really nice to have a job that pays enough for me to do these things while i'm young and have no children."
All in all, things are good, as usual. My hands are freezing though, so I'll want to shower soon. And since i'm getting a tattoo today, the sooner i'm emotionally prepared, the better. I have been planning on getting apple blossoms on my foot, and i'll see what the artist comes up with, but i'm not sure i'm feeling it right now. I know, though, that i want a dragonfly on the inside of my left ankle and a ladybug on the inside of my right ankle, so maybe i'll do that today instead. Then, of course, Q will be getting hers, too, and we're all going to celebrate her birthday.
I'm off to do great things! Like showering.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
February
It's March now. You can tell it snuck up on me, because yesterday (March 2) i called my landlord in a sad fit because i had forgotten to give her the rent check that i wrote out over a week and a half ago. I never do that (forget about the rent check). That's how you can tell that aside from being a short month, it was a busy month!
1. Went to Chicago! It was so good to see Lyrica and get to spend some good time with her boyfriend J as well. He's such a sweetie. We had a very well-balanced weekend, with the opulence of shopping and walking around Michigan Ave and seeing the Bean and walking to the lake on Saturday, and then on Sunday, we largely lazed around, made dinner, went to a coffee shop and read, and did a little yoga. Monday, we went to see Bodyworlds! I missed it when it was in Boston (shame on me) and i was REALLY happy to get to see it. It was, for lack of a better way of putting it, profound. One of the most beautiful things i have ever seen. Quite a life changing experience. The kids were all 100% attentive, and i learned SO much. It was a great time. And then i came home.
2. I also celebrated Laura's birthday last weekend! After teaching yoga at Harvard. We went out dancing! It was a blast. Hennessy's was fabulously fun, as usual, although the band was so loud that my ears are still sensitive from it. They still hurt on Monday morning (went out on Saturday night).
3. Q and i are getting more tattoos next weekend! More coming.
4. My phone died :( Fortunately, the wonderful folks and the Cingular store on Washington Street in Boston were kind enough to get me a new razor phone, its carrying case, a car charger, and a bluetooth wireless headset all for $90 with a $50 mail-in rebate, totaling in a whopping FORTY BUCKS. I would say i got a deal.
5. I paid off my SallieMae student loan! YAY! Unfortunately, we then had to buy home heating oil and received our excise tax bill in the mail, so i have $25 dollars until this coming Friday. Ah well. Now i get to work on the credit card bill!
6. Q and i are dying my hair tonight! YAY!
7. Upcoming Events: Ron and Carol Watier are coming down this week -- daN got Ron a gig at the Sage School! WOO HOO! It will be wonderful to see them. THEN, daN and i are going to New York City with two friends of ours to see the great storyteller Garrison Keilor in Concert! The FOlloWinG weekend, we'll be going to DC to visit Matt and Kathy Watier, and then to see the cherry blossoms in peak condition. Somewhere in there, i will be celebrating Q's birthday by singing drunken karaoke at a seedy bar near Lechmere in East Cambridge after drinking too much at the Boston Beerworks. Woohoo!
All in all, life is wonderful. daN and i are having a lovely time, and when we get to see friends, it's AWESOME. I am hoping to go to Switzerland, Seattle, or Quebec City sometime in the next year though... not sure where i'll get the money for that. Whatever.
How are you?
It's March now. You can tell it snuck up on me, because yesterday (March 2) i called my landlord in a sad fit because i had forgotten to give her the rent check that i wrote out over a week and a half ago. I never do that (forget about the rent check). That's how you can tell that aside from being a short month, it was a busy month!
1. Went to Chicago! It was so good to see Lyrica and get to spend some good time with her boyfriend J as well. He's such a sweetie. We had a very well-balanced weekend, with the opulence of shopping and walking around Michigan Ave and seeing the Bean and walking to the lake on Saturday, and then on Sunday, we largely lazed around, made dinner, went to a coffee shop and read, and did a little yoga. Monday, we went to see Bodyworlds! I missed it when it was in Boston (shame on me) and i was REALLY happy to get to see it. It was, for lack of a better way of putting it, profound. One of the most beautiful things i have ever seen. Quite a life changing experience. The kids were all 100% attentive, and i learned SO much. It was a great time. And then i came home.
2. I also celebrated Laura's birthday last weekend! After teaching yoga at Harvard. We went out dancing! It was a blast. Hennessy's was fabulously fun, as usual, although the band was so loud that my ears are still sensitive from it. They still hurt on Monday morning (went out on Saturday night).
3. Q and i are getting more tattoos next weekend! More coming.
4. My phone died :( Fortunately, the wonderful folks and the Cingular store on Washington Street in Boston were kind enough to get me a new razor phone, its carrying case, a car charger, and a bluetooth wireless headset all for $90 with a $50 mail-in rebate, totaling in a whopping FORTY BUCKS. I would say i got a deal.
5. I paid off my SallieMae student loan! YAY! Unfortunately, we then had to buy home heating oil and received our excise tax bill in the mail, so i have $25 dollars until this coming Friday. Ah well. Now i get to work on the credit card bill!
6. Q and i are dying my hair tonight! YAY!
7. Upcoming Events: Ron and Carol Watier are coming down this week -- daN got Ron a gig at the Sage School! WOO HOO! It will be wonderful to see them. THEN, daN and i are going to New York City with two friends of ours to see the great storyteller Garrison Keilor in Concert! The FOlloWinG weekend, we'll be going to DC to visit Matt and Kathy Watier, and then to see the cherry blossoms in peak condition. Somewhere in there, i will be celebrating Q's birthday by singing drunken karaoke at a seedy bar near Lechmere in East Cambridge after drinking too much at the Boston Beerworks. Woohoo!
All in all, life is wonderful. daN and i are having a lovely time, and when we get to see friends, it's AWESOME. I am hoping to go to Switzerland, Seattle, or Quebec City sometime in the next year though... not sure where i'll get the money for that. Whatever.
How are you?
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